STORRS, Conn. (AP) -North Carolina linebacker Bruce Carter can expect a lot of attention when the No. 19 Tar Heels visit Connecticut on Saturday, especially when UConn punts.
Carter blocked three punts last year against the Huskies, helping North Carolina roll over a ranked UConn squad in Chapel Hill, 38-12.
The North Carolina defense, which returns nine starters for the rematch in East Hartford, also intercepted Connecticut quarterback Zach Frazer three times.
“If we do this again this year, we’ve got no chance,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “We got three turnovers. We had three blocked punts and we had 11 penalties.”
In an effort to prevent a repeat of the punting fiasco, the Huskies revamped their scheme in the offseason, putting a three-player “shield” in front of punter Desi Cullen. Edsall said that should make it easier to pick up the rush.
” Cullen said this week. “It makes you feel pretty safe.”
The Huskies also have overhauled their offense, moving to a no-huddle, fast-paced attack under first-year coordinator Joe Moorhead.
It will be the first major non-conference test for the North Carolina defense, which was dominant in last Saturday’s season-opening 40-6 victory over The Citadel. The Tar Heels gave up just 153 yards, including 30 rushing yards, and forced four turnovers.
This week, they’ll have to stop a pair of running backs who each hit the 100-yard mark in Connecticut’s 23-16 win over Ohio. Jordan Todman (157 yards) and Andre Dixon (100 yards) replace Donald Brown, the nation’s leading rusher a year ago, who left school early for the NFL.
“They don’t miss a beat when one guy is in to give the other guy a rest,” UNC coach Butch Davis said. “They both catch the ball very well out of the backfield, they’re big, they’re fast. They are guys who when they get the ball and get to that second level, you start holding your breath. You’d better have great pursuit and guys taking good angles because these guys can make you look bad, real quick.”
Carolina also will play two running backs. Shaun Draughn, who rushed for 109 yards against UConn last year, had 118 yards on 20 carries in the opener. Ryan Houston added two touchdowns and the team rolled up 261 yards on the ground.
ting fullback Bobby Rome and backup defensive tackle Jordan Nix, who will miss the game after tests indicate they likely have swine flu. Neither player practiced this week.
The passing game remains a question mark for both teams.
Frazer threw for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Ohio, but also had three interceptions. He has started three games for UConn and has been picked off nine times.
“It happens,” Frazer said. “Everyone makes mistakes, and I’ve just got to learn from them and prepare for North Carolina.”
North Carolina’s T.J. Yates threw for two touchdowns and 114 yards against The Citadel, but had several passes dropped by a corps of young receivers.
“That’s an area that the focus needs to be good,” Davis said. “I think some if it, a little bit of it, was first-game jitters. As they become more comfortable playing, the expectations would be that they would relax and be able to catch.”
The Tar Heels are just 3-7 in games against teams from the Big East, but 2-0 against Connecticut.
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